In 1819, in Regency England, Thomas Shield—despite having no recommendations—becomes an assistant teacher in the outskirts of London. Among his students are a young American, Edgar Poe, the adopted son of the Allan family, and his close friend, Charles Frant—spoiled and pampered. The two boys bear a striking resemblance. Thomas falls in love with Charles’s mother, who, though beautiful, isn’t quite happy. Over time, he becomes drawn into complex family secrets and intrigues.
When, on the edge of the capital, a mutilated body is discovered, all clues point to the Frant family. Pulled into the case, Shield begins to realize that he has serious reasons to worry. Soon it becomes clear that at the center of these dark events is the young American. The book is in the top ten best detective novels of the decade according to Sunday Times.